weather by month

Heavy rains flood Nicosia roads

Heavy rain and hail storms on Thursday afternoon caused traffic chaos in parts of Nicosia and Larnaca, even trapping a woman and her child in their car as roads flooded.

Most of the problems caused by the heavy showers were concentrated in the Nicosia areas of Anthoupoli, Lakatamia and Kokkinotrimithia while Engomi and Strovolos—where the woman and child were trapped—also suffered.

Passers-by intervened to rescue the two before the Fire Service arrived, Spokesman Andreas Kettis told state radio, adding the water had become high enough to cover the vehicle’s windscreen by the time fire fighters reached it. He commended the ‘Good Samaritans’ but also noted non-specialists could endanger themselves while trying to rescue others.

More rain has been forecast for Friday, the weekend and Monday, washing away any lingering dust in the atmosphere, Meteorological Department official Panayiotis Lingis told the Cyprus Weekly yesterday.

“More rain is expected on Friday but not to Thursday’s extent,” Lingis said, adding the weekends’ showers would likely be even milder and potentially limited to the mountain areas of Limassol and Paphos.

The thunderstorms are forecast for the weekend, are anticipated to be reduced to isolated showers by Monday.